Porsche has electrified the iconic 911 sports car. The new 911 Carrera GTS is the first street-legal 911 fitted with a new high-performance turbocharged hybrid powertrain.
For over 60 years, the Porsche 911 has been one of the world’s most successful sports cars both on and off the racetrack. Its combination of high performance, superb driving dynamics, and surprising practicality have helped it sell well over a million units to adoring fans – and it continues to win races around the globe. Race teams like the 911 because of its durability and reliability, but also its surprising efficiency: always leveraging the latest tech, the 911 does with six cylinders what it takes competitors eight or more cylinders to do. And now, the Porsche 911 is going hybrid, with a brand-new engine augmented by two electric motors.
Porsche’s new hybrid powertrain – “T-hybrid” short for “turbo hybrid” – is focused on improving performance first, but it also significantly enhances the efficiency of the 911 Carrera GTS models in which it’s installed. A 3.6-liter gasoline engine is augmented by a single turbocharger, which uses an electric motor placed between the compressor and turbine wheel to completely eliminate turbo lag. When not providing instantaneous extra power, the electric motor acts as a generator, turning exhaust gas flow into electric power.
A second electric motor is integrated into the eight-seed dual-clutch PDK transmission installed in every GTS model. Not only does it provide extra power and torque (53 hp and 110 lb-ft), but it too can charge the lightweight. 1.9-kWh, 400-volt lithium-ion battery. Designed to quickly charge and discharge, the battery is about the same size as a conventional 12-volt starter battery, meaning that Porsche’s complete hybrid system only imposes a very small weight penalty for the high-performance sports car.
Further improvements to the 3.6-liter gasoline engine are enabled by electrification. The air conditioning compressor is now driven electrically, eliminating a lot of extra belts, drives, and hoses – making the engine much more compact. The space saved contains the hybrid system’s pulse inverter and DC/DC converter. Total system output is an impressive 541 hp and 449 lb-ft of torque – resulting in a 0-60 mph time of just 2.9 seconds, faster than the most expensive 911 Turbo models of just a couple of years ago, but with reduced fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
Porsche’s all-new hybrid system comes with a number of other functional enhancements. Rear-wheel steering is now standard on GTS models, increasing stability at high speeds and reducing the turning circle at low speeds. The dynamic chassis control system is now electrically, rather than hydraulically-powered, making it faster to respond and much more precise. Plus, variable dampers and a lower ride height provide improved handling.
The exterior has been slightly updated to improve aerodynamic performance with new bumpers; there are standard matrix LED headlights which create room for larger cooling vents. At the rear, there’s a redesigned light strip with an integrated, lit-up Porsche logo, a redesigned rear grille with 10 fins, and more. GTS models are distinguished by a front bumper with vertical air intakes, different wheels, and a rear bumper with two close-set exhaust pipes. Underneath the body, adaptive air diffusers and cooling flaps move to optimize air flow as well as engine and brake cooling.
Inside, the 911 gets a fully-digital instrument cluster for the first time, replacing the physical central tachometer and dual screens (which themselves replaced five circular gauges in prior models). The new digital cluster can be customized to your heart’s content, and continues to offer a classic view that mimics 911 models of old. There’s a new start button, drive mode selector on the steering wheel, an air-conditioned wireless smartphone charger, and a comprehensively updated infotainment system with deep Apple integration – including CarPlay, Siri voice assistant, Apple Music streaming, and more. Coupe models now come standard in a two-seat configuration, with rear seats available at no extra charge.
The new hybrid-powered Porsche 911 Carrera GTS is available in three body styles – coupe, cabriolet, and Targa with a retracting roof panel, as well as in rear- or all-wheel drive. The starting MSRP is $164,900 for a rear-wheel drive coupe, and deliveries will begin before the end of the year.
Senior Editor and GreenCars Contributor
Laurance Yap worked for a decade as an automotive journalist before joining Porsche, where he ran PR and marketing in Canada. He led global marketing for RM Sotheby’s, and is a senior manager at GreenCars and a regular contributor to the site.
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